New Study Reveals Surprising Impact of Gratitude on Helping Behaviors

Expressions of gratitude, such as “Thank you! You are so kind!” have long been viewed as essential in fostering future kindness. However, a new study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology challenges this belief, suggesting that gratitude may not significantly influence future helping behaviors after all. Conducted by researchers at Simon Fraser University, the study employed a rigorous methodology known as a Registered Report, ensuring transparency and reliability in its findings.

Research Methodology and Findings

The research comprised two large pre-registered experiments involving over 600 university students and more than 800 adults. In the first experiment, participants were asked to create a short video welcoming a new student, played by a member of the research team. Following this act of kindness, participants received one of three different pre-recorded video responses.

Some participants were thanked specifically for their kind act, while others were acknowledged for their kind character. A control group received a neutral response indicating that their welcome video had been received but with no expression of gratitude. After viewing the videos, participants were invited to write up to five notes welcoming additional new students, which served as a measure of their future helping behavior.

The results revealed no significant differences in the number of notes written across the three conditions. This outcome indicates that expressions of gratitude, whether directed at the act or the character, did not significantly enhance the likelihood of future helping behaviors, contradicting previous research.

In the second experiment, the researchers aimed to further explore the impact of gratitude on charitable donations. Participants were initially invited to donate to a charity and received a thank-you letter from the organization two days later. Similar to the first experiment, some letters expressed gratitude for the kind act, while others praised the donors’ character. A third group received a simple acknowledgment of their donation.

Participants who received a thank-you note donated an average of 42 cents in the follow-up survey, regardless of whether they were thanked for their action or character. In contrast, those in the control group donated approximately 34 cents, indicating that while gratitude may encourage further donations, the specific content of the gratitude message had no significant effect.

Implications of the Findings

These findings prompt a reevaluation of the importance placed on expressing gratitude. While the research suggests that the content of a thank-you message may not significantly affect future helping behavior, it does not diminish the value of gratitude in social interactions. Expressing appreciation can enhance the emotional well-being of the individual giving thanks and strengthen social bonds.

The study highlights that many individuals struggle with how to articulate their gratitude effectively, often worrying about the appropriateness of their expressions. This uncertainty can lead to missed opportunities for connection. The researchers argue that simple, heartfelt expressions of thanks may be more impactful than previously believed.

Kelton Travis, an honors undergraduate student in psychology at Simon Fraser University, co-authored the study under the guidance of Lara B Aknin, who receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The study underscores the importance of gratitude in social relationships while suggesting that the way gratitude is expressed may be less critical than the act of expressing it itself.